About CMRI

1 in 20 children worldwide is born with a birth defect or genetic disease. Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is dedicated to advancing the treatment and prevention of childhood diseases, so every child has the opportunity for a healthy start to life.

CMRI pioneered microsurgery, immunisations against lethal childhood illnesses and care for premature babies, all of which has improved the lives of countless Australian children over the last 58 years. Today, CMRI is the site of world-leading research in areas such as cancer, neurobiology, embryology and gene therapy.

CMRI collaborates with scientists all over the world to push research forward. It also provides important resources for scientists in Australia. It operates CellBank Australia™, the only national repository of cell cultures, necessary for many fields of medical science. In addition, CMRI houses a major Biomedical Proteomics facility and an Australian first, the ACRF Centre for Kinomics, a joint venture with the University of Newcastle, which enables scientists to understand the master controls governing basic cell behaviour and develop new therapeutic drugs for a range of diseases.

CMRI is a founding member of the Westmead Research Hub, a major medical research precinct, uniting the efforts of local scientists to perform at a national and international level. The Institute employs more than a hundred full time scientists and educates dozens of PhD students (the ground-breaking scientists of the future) through its academic ties to the University of Sydney.

CMRI’s achievements are made possible by a network of devoted community supporters, as well as the iconic Jeans for Genes® fundraising campaign.